Multidimensional effects of solar photovoltaics water pumping systems for rural agricultural activities: A system dynamics approach

Alternative energy sources, including solar photovoltaics (PV), are fundamental for sustainable rural development, and their application in agricultural and other activities yields multiple effects. Studies indicate the numerous benefits of rural energy provision. However, the impact of solar PV water pumping systems (SPVWPS) on agricultural activities in rural communities is scarcely analysed. Building on scholars’ positive arguments on SPVWPS, this study answers the following questions: How do SPVWPS in agriculture relate to sustainable positive outcomes in rural communities? What are the challenges associated with solarisation in rural agricultural activities? A mixed-methods approach was employed, using questionnaire surveys among farmers and in-depth interviews with government officials and SPV developers in rural areas of the Iringa, Dodoma and Manyara regions in Mainland Tanzania. Causal loop diagrams (CLDs) were used to illustrate the dynamic multiple cycles of socioeconomic effects of the SPVWPS in rural areas. The results indicate that SPVWPS in agriculture increased agricultural productivity, which also positively impacts the well-being of rural communities. Therefore, efforts to energise rural communities should focus more on agricultural activities, which are the main economic drivers that enhance these communities’ social, economic and environmental well-being. Moreover, applying CLDs demonstrates the non-linear, dynamic and critical relationships that policymakers and solar PV developers should consider to enhance rural socioeconomic development.